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A fresh bout of “quantum panic” broke out across Bitcoin X on Tuesday after Castle Island’s Nic Carter and longtime Bitcoin developer Matt Corallo sparred over whether the ecosystem is treating post-quantum security as an urgent protocol priority or a speculative distraction. The exchange landed on a familiar Bitcoin fault line: decentralized development culture versus the market’s appetite for visible coordination and timelines.

The flare-up began with a prompt from Kellan Grenier, who said he wished a “Tier 1 custodian” would partner with Castle Island to “spin up a Quantum Resistance BTC dev tiger team,” arguing there’s a “building wall of worry” that needs to be addressed “head on by reputable forces.” Corallo shot back that prominent Bitcoin developers have been “hard at work on QC for a while,” rejecting the premise that the space is asleep at the wheel.

Post-Quantum Bitcoin Plan Debate Heats Up Carter disagreed sharply, arguing that scattered individual efforts don’t address the core bottleneck in Bitcoin upgrades: social consensus among the small set of developers and institutions who typically “set pace” for changes that actually ship and get adopted.

He pointed to Bitcoin’s historical upgrade cadence, saying the last two major upgrades took “7–8 years from first proposal to meaningful adoption on chain,” and added that the only named Bitcoin Improvement Proposal he cited as “pertaining to quantum,” BIP360, “has not been co-signed by any major dev,” describing it as “only a first of many, many steps that need to be made.”

Carter’s central claim was that Bitcoin can’t afford to wait for cryptographically relevant quantum computers to be demonstrably real before mobilizing, because the migration burden is asymmetric and slow. “And no, you cannot just ‘wait until CRQCs are real’ to act,” he wrote. “You need to act with a 5–10 year lead time. So if you think QCs might exist in 2035, you need to start acting now.”

He framed the risk in operational terms: custodians, exchanges, and individual holders would need to rotate keys across the entire network within a finite window or face catastrophic loss. He repeatedly linked to his essays arguing quantum timelines are accelerating and that Bitcoin developers should treat the threat proactively.

Corallo rejected both the tone and the factual framing, accusing Carter of manufacturing fear and ignoring ongoing institutional work. “Man you seriously need to stop talking out of your ass,” Corallo wrote, disputing the characterization of post-quantum work as “minuscule” and “scattered.”

He argued that “the top two Bitcoin developer institutions (Blockstream Research and Chaincode) each [have] several people working hard on what a post-quantum Bitcoin upgrade should look like,” and said he has not heard influential developers dismiss quantum as “only driven by investors” or “hype.”

Sleepwalking Or FUD? The argument also rewound to 2021 debates around Taproot. Carter claimed quantum concerns were raised then and dismissed, calling the risk “far more urgent since.” Corallo countered that Carter was misrepresenting the earlier discussion: “The concern that was dismissed is that taproot made it materially worse, not that there was no risk and that there would never be any risk,” he wrote, adding that he still believes that narrower claim is correct.

As the thread escalated, Carter argued that Bitcoin’s culture of obscured influence and informal governance makes accountability difficult even when the stakes are existential. “There has been turnover in core dev, there has been a deliberate attempt to disguise who is a core dev for liability reasons, and because the most influential bitcoin devs try to keep their importance obscure,” he wrote, suggesting that outsiders can’t easily verify where “consensus” actually sits.

Corallo’s rebuttal was that the work exists, even if it doesn’t present as a public campaign. “That is what it looks like when devs take a problem seriously — research into available options, new cryptographic primitives that are better for Bitcoin than available standard PQC options,” he wrote, arguing that absence of conference-stage messaging is not evidence of inactivity.

A key technical disagreement surfaced late in the exchange: whether post-quantum safety would require essentially every user to migrate. After Carter told another developer it was “a lot more complicated than a simple patch” because “every user individually” would need to migrate “in a finite period of time,” Corallo responded: “No it doesn’t. If you have a wallet derived from a seedphrase, that is actually fine (assuming unsafe spend paths are disabled).”

Christine D. Kim, founder of Protocol Watch, jumped in to argue that Carter’s comparisons to councils and roadmaps in other ecosystems miss Bitcoin’s structure. Bitcoin “isn’t a company,” she wrote, and post-quantum discussions already occur through the usual venues — “the mailing list, IRC meetings, delving bitcoin”, adding that what Carter cited elsewhere can be “marketing… it’s just more centralized.”

At press time, BTC traded at $76,268.

BTC remains above the 1.0 Fib, 1-week chart | Source: BTCUSDT on TradingView.com Featured image created with DALL.E, chart from TradingView.com

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Bitcoin fell to its lowest levels since November 2024 after beating its previous bottom, with $70,000 BTC price support and under coming into focus.

Bitcoin (BTC) saw a second dip below $73,000 after Wednesday’s Wall Street open as US sellers returned.

Key points:

Bitcoin falls further into territory not seen since late 2024, dropping under Tuesday’s prior low.

Macro assets lose steam as precious metals give back recent gains.

Traders lie in wait for deeper long-term lows on Bitcoin to come next.

Bitcoin joins precious metals in failed relief bounceData from TradingView showed characteristic BTC price weakness during the US trading session, with lows of under $72,500 on Bitstamp.

BTC/USD one-hour chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingView
These beat the 15-month lows seen the day prior, and a relief bounce above $76,000 was short-lived.

Macro assets were subdued across the board, with gold failing to recapture $5,000 as support and US stocks heading lower at the open.

BREAKING: Silver prices post a massive reversal, falling nearly -$9/oz in under 3 hours.

Gold prices also fall -$220/oz in under 3 hours. pic.twitter.com/F6BaeFDWRl

— The Kobeissi Letter (@KobeissiLetter) February 4, 2026 “Crypto remains volatile,” trading company QCP Capital wrote in its latest “Asia Color” market update.

QCP said that the US government avoiding a fresh shutdown for the time being was “easing near-term headline risk” for markets.

“In macro, the shutdown overhang has faded, but the key takeaway is how quickly fiscal standoffs can return. Homeland Security funding was only extended through 13 February, keeping another deadline risk in play,” it added.

BTC is seeing “bear market price action”Bitcoin traders thus remained on edge as uncertainty ruled sentiment. As Cointelegraph noted, the area around $50,000 was now a popular target.

“Ugly interim weekly candle for bulls. IF we close sub 74k - its safe to say 50k area is next,” trader Roman wrote in his latest analysis on X. 

“Notice how volume is high every time price moves down. That tells us when volume comes in - its selling AKA bear market price action!” BTC/USDT one-week chart. Source: Roman/X
Trader CJ prepared for the spot price to drop by another $10,000 or more, subject to a potential relief bounce first.

Not sure if it will be a straight shot or we bounce first.

But 59-65k is the next major downside level of interest for me.$BTC pic.twitter.com/MFSmIIrCzg

— CJ (@CJ900X) February 4, 2026 Earlier, Cointelegraph reported on a potential safety net in the form of the 200-week exponential moving average (EMA), currently near $68,000.

Data from monitoring resource CoinGlass showed future long liquidations building above $72,000, while total 24-hour crypto liquidations were at over $800 million.

BTC liquidation heatmap. Source: CoinGlassThis article does not contain investment advice or recommendations. Every investment and trading move involves risk, and readers should conduct their own research when making a decision. While we strive to provide accurate and timely information, Cointelegraph does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information in this article. This article may contain forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties. Cointelegraph will not be liable for any loss or damage arising from your reliance on this information.

Indian investors are buying the bitcoin price dip, CoinDCX saysIndian crypto investors have been buyers of bitcoin and other layer 1 tokens, maintaining a well-diversified portfolio, CoinDCX told CoinDesk. Feb 4, 2026, 3:50 p.m.

Indian crypto investors have shed the speculative itch and are buying the dip in bitcoin BTC$76,073.52 price like seasoned pros, Mumbai-based CoinDCX exchange told CoinDesk.

"Indian investors are maturing. They're no longer driven purely by sentiment or headlines; instead, they’re focused on fundamentals and the long-term potential of the asset class," CoinDCX's CEO Sumit Gupta said in an email.

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"We’re seeing it in their behavior: regular bitcoin systematic investment plans (SIPs), deliberate market orders, and thoughtfully placed limit orders," he added, naming ether ETH$2,267.87, solana SOL$91.35 and XRP XRP$1.5265 as other favorites.

The latest trend contrasts with the frenzied trading in 2021 when newbies chasing 100x pumps dabbled with DOGE$0.1022 clones and other smaller tokens.

"It’s clear that participation is becoming more strategic and measured, rather than reactive. Increasingly, investors are looking at Bitcoin for portfolio diversification and long-term wealth creation," Gupta said.

Bitcoin's price has dropped to $75,000 after having hit a high of over $126,000 in October. The broader market has followed suit, with altcoins registering bigger losses. Coincidentally, the Indian national rupee (INR) has depreciated against the U.S. dollar in recent weeks, hitting a record low of 92 per USD.

Yet trading volumes have picked up on the exchange, rising from about $269 million in December to roughly $309 million in January, he said, adding that the activity has been more balanced. "We see profit-taking from short-term traders who bought near recent lows, but at the same time, steady accumulation from long-term investors who view these levels as an opportunity," he noted.

India, the world's fastest-growing major economy, maintains a cautious, regulatory-focused stance on digital assets, treating them as taxable Virtual Digital Assets (VDA) rather than legal tender. The annual budget announced over the weekend maintained a 30% tax on crypto gains, with no loss set-offs, and a 1% transaction tax deducted at source.

Regulations issued by the Financial Intelligence Unit also mandate strict KYC requirements, including regular and accurate reporting of user transactions by exchanges. These measures are aimed at bolstering compliance and countering money laundering and terrorist financing.

"The Union Budget 2026 proposes strengthening compliance for crypto platforms over lapses in transaction disclosures, aiming to curb tax evasion in virtual digital assets," Gupta said.

We remain fully committed to working with policymakers to support the development of a safe, innovative, and globally competitive VDA ecosystem, as the regulatory landscape continues to evolve.

Bitcoin has lost more than $53,000 in value over the past four months, extending a sharp downturn that has erased much of last year’s rally and left investors searching for signs of stability.

Bitcoin peaked near $126,000 in October 2025 and has since fallen to around $73,200, its lowest level this year. The decline has wiped out more than $1.1 trillion from Bitcoin’s market value and pushed it roughly 42% below its all-time high.

The selloff has also dragged down the broader crypto market. Ethereum is down about 56% from its peak, reinforcing concerns that digital assets remain stuck in a prolonged downturn.

Crypto Falls as Stocks Hold Near RecordsThe contrast with traditional markets has been striking.

U.S. stock indexes remain close to record highs, with the S&P 500 down about 1.5% from its peak, the Nasdaq off roughly 3.6%, and the Russell 2000 lower by around 4.2%. Crypto markets, by comparison, have suffered far deeper losses.

That gap has fueled speculation among some investors about market manipulation or deeper structural problems in crypto.

Analysts Reject Manipulation ClaimsJulio Moreno, a crypto market analyst, pushed back against the idea that the drop signals something broken behind the scenes.

He said Bitcoin’s broader trend since 2023 had been upward until late last year, when momentum shifted. “We made a new all-time high,” Moreno said, arguing that 2025 was not a bear year overall despite ending in the red.

According to Moreno, the change came in November, when Bitcoin’s trend turned downward after falling below a long-watched technical level.

A Clear Bear Signal EmergesAnalysts point to Bitcoin’s move below its 365-day moving average as a major warning sign. That indicator has historically marked the shift from bull markets to bear markets.

“When price drops below the one-year average, that level tends to become resistance,” Moreno said. In past cycles, including 2022, similar moves were followed by extended declines.

This time, he said, the downturn has been worse than early 2022, suggesting a more prolonged correction.

He now sees several important price levels shaping what comes next.

$89,000 is viewed as a major resistance level where rallies could stall
$79,000 is considered near-term support
A sustained and continuous drop below that could open the door to $70,000 or lower
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A further decline remains the most likely scenario for most of the coins, according to CoinStats.

BTC chart by CoinStatsBTC/USDThe rate of Bitcoin (BTC) has dropped by 4.62% since yesterday.

Image by TradingViewOn the hourly chart, the price of BTC is falling after breaking the local support at $74,141. If the daily bar closes far from that mark, traders may expect a test of the $73,000 zone shortly.

Image by TradingViewOn the longer time frame, sellers are also controlling the situation on the market. If a breakout of the $72,863 level happens, the decline is likely to continue to the $70,000 area until the end of the week.

Image by TradingViewFrom the midterm point of view, traders should focus on the weekly bar's closure in terms of the $74,434 level. 

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If it happens far from it, one can expect a bounce back to the $80,000 range.

Bitcoin is trading at $74,251 at press time.

Just one month into 2026, Dogecoin’s on-chain wealth metrics are already revealing a notable change. Data tied to wallet balances shows that a meaningful share of DOGE’s highest-value holders has dropped out of the millionaire bracket since the start of the year.  The change has unfolded quickly and lines up with a period of price weakness, which makes it necessary for closer attention to what is happening behind the scenes among Dogecoin’s largest holders.

Finbold Data Shows A 10% Drop In Dogecoin Millionaire Wallets The number of Dogecoin wallets in the millionaire threshold has fallen notably since the beginning of 2026, but this is not surprising considering the price action of the meme coin during this period. This trend is revealed through data from the Dogecoin Rich List metric from BitInfoCharts. 

Details first published by Finbold, using data stored in Wayback Machine’s internet archive, show there were 1,052 Dogecoin wallets holding at least $1 million worth of the cryptocurrency at the start of 2026. Out of those 1,052 wallet addresses, 163 of them were worth more than $10,000.

Dogecoin Rich List. Source: BitInfoCharts

However, the data from early February shows an interesting trend since then. As it stands, that figure has fallen to about 950. In practical terms, this means that nearly one out of every ten Dogecoin millionaire wallets has fallen out of that category within the space of a single month. The speed of this decline stands out, especially when compared with the usually slower and more incremental changes that tend to occur on Dogecoin’s rich list over longer periods.

Price Decline Pushes Wallets Below The $1 Million Threshold The timing of the drop in millionaire wallets closely tracks Dogecoin’s price performance since the beginning of the year. In terms of price action, Dogecoin has traded lower on a year-to-date basis, shedding double-digit percentage losses. 

Notably, Dogecoin’s price has lost about 32% of its value since January 4. This goes back to a downward price action that has been playing out since the last quarter of 2025, when Dogecoin was rejected at $0.29 and has been correcting since then. At the time of writing, Dogecoin is trading at $0.1084 and is at risk of losing the $0.10 price level. If Dogecoin were to break below this level, then the number of millionaire holders will drop in tandem.

However, valuation changes, not just outright exits, played a role in the shrinking millionaire count. As prices moved down, many wallets that previously sat just above the $1 million mark would have slipped below the threshold without necessarily selling large portions of their holdings.

A decline in high-value holders does not automatically mean a collapse in Dogecoin’s outlook, but it does reflect changing behavior among large holders. Some of the reduction may point to profit-taking. Other wallets may simply be waiting out weaker market conditions. 

DOGE price fails to recover | Source: DOGEUSDT on Tradingview.com Featured image created with Dall.E, chart from Tradingview.com

Ripple is taking another step into decentralized finance, backing onchain derivatives at a moment when institutional players are quietly reassessing how and where they trade.

The blockchain firm said its institutional brokerage arm, Ripple Prime, has begun supporting Hyperliquid, a fast-growing decentralized derivatives venue. The move allows Ripple Prime clients to access onchain derivatives liquidity while managing risk and collateral alongside traditional asset classes.

The development shows a shift under way in crypto markets: decentralized trading venues, once dominated by retail users, are increasingly being shaped to meet institutional demands.

Bringing DeFi Into the Prime Brokerage ModelThrough the integration, institutional clients using Ripple Prime can trade on Hyperliquid while keeping exposures consolidated across a broader portfolio that includes digital assets, foreign exchange, fixed income, and derivatives.

Instead of managing separate accounts and collateral pools for decentralized platforms, clients can operate through a single prime brokerage relationship — a structure long familiar in traditional finance but still rare in DeFi.

Market participants say this kind of setup could lower one of the biggest barriers to institutional DeFi adoption: fragmented risk management.

Why Hyperliquid?Hyperliquid has gained attention for its onchain derivatives infrastructure, which aims to offer high-speed execution without relying on centralized intermediaries. While decentralized derivatives have existed for years, liquidity and performance concerns have kept most large institutions on the sidelines.

By plugging Hyperliquid into a prime brokerage framework, Ripple is effectively testing whether decentralized markets can be accessed in ways that resemble conventional trading desks — without requiring firms to abandon compliance, margin controls, or capital efficiency.

While DeFi volumes remain volatile and sensitive to market cycles, interest from institutional players has grown as infrastructure matures. The question is no longer whether institutions will interact with DeFi, but under what conditions.

For now, the move means less about explosive growth and more about quiet positioning. As crypto markets evolve, firms like Ripple appear to be betting that the future of trading will blur the line between centralized and decentralized finance — not replace one with the other.

Trust with CoinPedia:CoinPedia has been delivering accurate and timely cryptocurrency and blockchain updates since 2017. All content is created by our expert panel of analysts and journalists, following strict Editorial Guidelines based on E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness). Every article is fact-checked against reputable sources to ensure accuracy, transparency, and reliability. Our review policy guarantees unbiased evaluations when recommending exchanges, platforms, or tools. We strive to provide timely updates about everything crypto & blockchain, right from startups to industry majors.

Investment Disclaimer:All opinions and insights shared represent the author's own views on current market conditions. Please do your own research before making investment decisions. Neither the writer nor the publication assumes responsibility for your financial choices.

Sponsored and Advertisements:Sponsored content and affiliate links may appear on our site. Advertisements are marked clearly, and our editorial content remains entirely independent from our ad partners.

Franklin Templeton mentioned that public blockchain record-keeping costs prominently less than legacy systems. The chief executive officer, Jenny Johnson, mentioned that this year would mark surged institutional investment beyond Bitcoin holdings into tokenised investment vehicles.  The officials of Franklin Templeton traced a vision for virtual wallet-based finance at the Ondo Summit in New York on Tuesday, forecasting an essential shift away from traditional account-based asset management. 

The Head of Innovation at Franklin Templeton, Sandy Kaul, mentioned that tokenised digital wallets will in the end hold the “totality” of the financial life of an individual, as per remarks offered at the summit. 

The transition shows a move toward what the company referred to as a “wallet-native” ecosystem. The asset manager has been executing this strategy via its proprietary blockchain platform, Benji, which the firm reported is being used to tokenise traditional stocks, bonds, and private funds over simple cryptocurrency products. 

As per the proposed model, in the current scenario, assets held over various institutions, comprising stocks at brokerages, savings in banks, and real estate in paper deeds, would be shown as tokens on a blockchain. 

The system would permit quick collateralisation, permitting tokenised holdings like S&P 500 investments to safeguard loans within seconds, as per the presentation of the company. The officials from Fidelity, State Street, and WisdomTree took part in the summit and signalled that tokenisation has advanced from the proof-of-concept stage to operational infrastructure, as per the summit reports. 

What Did The CEO Says?  Franklin Templeton mentioned that public blockchain record-keeping costs prominently less than legacy systems. The data from Industry quoted at the summit showed that adopting blockchain infrastructure can suppress overall processing costs by up to 82%. 

The company has rolled out various spot digital asset exchange-traded funds as part of its tokenisation strategy. The lineup of the product comprises funds offering direct Bitcoin exposure, native Ethereum exposure via the Benji platform, and a diversified portfolio of digital assets. 

The firm noted plans to widen into tokens made on layer-1 blockchain networks. The chief executive officer, Jenny Johnson, mentioned that this year would mark surged institutional investment beyond Bitcoin holdings into tokenised investment vehicles. 

The products are made to offer wider access to asset classes like private equity and high-yield credit, as mentioned by the firm. 

Highlighted Crypto News Today: 

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TL;DR

Cycle Anxiety: Bitcoin’s 40% pullback is reviving fears of a return to past four‑year cycle patterns, with recent price action showing similarities to the 2018 and 2022 sell‑offs. Institutional Backdrop: K33’s Vetle Lunde argues this cycle is different due to institutional inflows, regulated products, and an easing rate environment, reducing the likelihood of an 80% drawdown. Support and Signals: Bottoming indicators such as high spot volume and extreme negative funding rates are flashing, but remain inconclusive.
Bitcoin’s latest pullback is stirring renewed anxiety across the market, with traders increasingly worried that price action is drifting back toward the familiar rhythm of past four‑year cycles. Yet research firm K33 argues that despite the sharp decline, the structural backdrop differs meaningfully from earlier bear markets, reducing the likelihood of another extreme collapse.

Rising Concerns as Bitcoin Extends Its Decline K33 Head of Research Vetle Lunde noted that Bitcoin has now fallen roughly 40% from its October peak, including an 11% slide last week amid heightened global risk aversion. He acknowledged that recent behavior shows unsettling similarities to the deep sell‑offs of 2018 and 2022, where market psychology overwhelmed fundamentals. Although Lunde previously declared that the four‑year cycle was no longer a defining force, he said current price action is reviving echoes of those earlier downturns.

Despite the mounting fear, Lunde emphasized that today’s environment differs from prior cycles due to stronger institutional adoption, expanding regulated product inflows, and an easing rate backdrop. Billions of dollars have flowed into exchange‑traded products, advisor access continues to widen, and banks are rolling out crypto‑related services. Even so, he warned that fear of a cycle repeat can become self‑fulfilling as long‑term holders trim exposure and new capital hesitates to enter, creating selling pressure that mimics past declines.

Bottoming Signals Emerge but Remain Inconclusive Several indicators commonly associated with market bottoms have begun to flash. On Feb. 2, Bitcoin logged a 90th‑percentile spot trading day with more than $8 billion in volume as prices revisited 2025 lows. Derivatives markets also saw open interest and funding rates plunge into extreme negative territory following roughly $1.8 billion in long liquidations. Lunde said this combination has aligned with reversals in the past, though he cautioned that similar extremes have appeared during false starts and mid‑trend pauses.

Lunde identified $74,000 as a critical support zone. A break below it could accelerate downside momentum toward the November 2021 peak near $69,000 or even the 200‑week moving average around $58,000. Still, he maintains that an 80% drawdown is unlikely, citing the absence of forced deleveraging events that fueled the 2022 collapse. With BTC nearing a flat two‑year return profile, he sees no urgency for long‑term holders to sell and views current prices as attractive for patient investors.

Ripple Prime is the newest prime brokerage platform, which enables support for Hyperliquid. The integration allows institutional clients to access on-chain liquidity. 

Ripple’s institutional clients will gain access to Hyperliquid, one of the most active perpetual futures exchanges. The decentralized protocol has so far been the venue for crypto-native traders. Ripple may expand the influence of Hyperliquid to institutional clients. 

Institutional clients will be able to access Hyperliquid while cross-margining their exposure to all of Ripple’s products. Clients’ portfolios will allow margin trading on DeFi, as well as forex, fixed income, OTC swaps, and derivatives. 

The addition of Hyperliquid is another step in bridging traditional and decentralized markets. Ripple Prime will offer institutions seamless access to on-chain venues while using a familiar prime brokerage framework. 

The partnership arrived after Ripple lagged behind other networks in building its own liquidity. XRPL carries several apps, but the network has a little under $55M in total value locked, with minimal activity on XRPL DEX. Hyperliquid will open a much larger market and deep liquidity for BTC, as well as highly active altcoin and even commodity markets.

Ripple offers single counterparty risk Accessing Hyperliquid through Ripple Prime will ensure lower risk from a single counterparty, as well as curated risk management and margin consolidation. The entire portfolios of institutional clients will be used as margin for their DeFi positions on Hyperliquid.

‘At Ripple Prime, we are excited to continue leading the way in merging decentralized finance with traditional prime brokerage services, offering direct support to trading, yield generation, and a wider range of digital assets,’ said Michael Higgins, International CEO, Ripple Prime.

While Ripple’s XRPL carries some native trading apps, the addition of Hyperliquid shows the platform’s best-in-class status. Hyperliquid’s trading volumes are already catching up with spot markets on major exchanges. The platform is also scalable and offers fast access to new asset classes. 

Hyperliquid is fully decentralized and permissionless, with no KYC requirements. Ripple Prime will be the first verified brokerage to onboard clients, as Hyperliquid has not yet partnered with other verified services. 

XRP among the most bearish assets on Hyperliquid Even after the partnership announcement, XRP remained bearish. XRP slid to $1.55, extending its slide from the past few weeks. 

XRP crashed below $2 and continued its slide in the past month. | Source: Coingecko On Hyperliquid, over 65% of whale traders are going short on XRP, putting it among the most bearish assets. XRP is in the top 5 most actively traded tokens on Hyperliquid, as whales make use of its directional trading. 

Hyperliquid’s native HYPE token took a step back, erasing 5.75% in the past day, down to $33. Briefly, HYPE traded at $37.84, after Hyperliquid announced the addition of prediction and options markets through HIP-4.

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XRP (XRP) price dropped below $1.50 over the weekend, its lowest level in over 14 months. Now, a bearish technical setup on the charts suggests that the downtrend may extend throughout February.

Key takeaways:

XRP’s bear pennant on the four-hour chart targets $1.22.

XRP futures open interest dropped to $2.61 billion, which gives some hope for the bulls.

XRP/USD daily chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingViewXRP price chart shows a textbook bear pennant

On Saturday, XRP price fell about 14% from a high of $1.75 to a low of $1.50, losing the $1.60 support level for the first time since November 2024. 

The latest drop has put it into the breakdown phase of its bear pennant setup, as shown on the four-hour chart below.

XRP dropped below the pennant’s lower trendline on Tuesday, then rebounded to retest it as support. The price is likely to drop lower if the retest fails and a four-hour candlestick closes below this level at $1.58.

The measured target of the bear pennant, calculated by adding the height of the initial drop to the breakout point, is $1.22, representing a 23% drop from the current price.

XRP/USD four-hour chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingView
XRP’s recovery to $2.40 in January turned out to be a “fakeout” as the price continued to form “price formed a fresh lower lows,” pseudonymous analyst AltCryptoGems said in a recent post on X, adding:

“The downtrend remains intact and we are on the verge of a disastrous collapse in a huge no-support zone.” XRP/USD daily chart. Source: AltCryptoGemsTrader and investor Alex Clay said that after breaching the support line of a double bottom pattern at $1.60, the path is now cleared for a drop toward $1 or lower.

Source: X/Alex ClayAs Cointelegraph reported, XRP’s next major support level is near its aggregated realized price at $1.48. If this level is lost, it would put the average holder underwater, a setup that closely matches the 2022 bear phase that ultimately ended in a 50% drawdown toward $0.30.

XRP buyers step back The 90-day Spot Taker Cumulative Volume Delta (CVD), a metric that tracks whether market orders are driven by buyers or sellers, reveals that buy-orders (taker buy) have been declining sharply since early January.

While demand-side pressure has dominated the order book since November 2025, buy orders have dropped sharply over the last 30 days, according to CryptoQuant.

This indicates waning enthusiasm or exhaustion among XRP investors, signaling reduced bullish momentum and increasing downside risk for the price. 

Previous sharp drops in spot CVD have been accompanied by 28%-50% price drawdowns within weeks.

XRP spot taker CVD. Source: CryptoQuantHowever, in the current downtrend, one hope for the bulls is the declining XRP futures open interest (OI). It has dropped sharply to $2.61 billion on Wednesday, from $4.55 billion on Jan. 6. 

When OI declines in combination with falling prices, it indicates a weakening bearish trend or a potential trend reversal.

This could provide some fuel for the bulls to test the important overhead resistance at around $1.85, a level that served as support throughout most of 2025.

XRP Open Interest. Source: CoinGlassThis article does not contain investment advice or recommendations. Every investment and trading move involves risk, and readers should conduct their own research when making a decision. While we strive to provide accurate and timely information, Cointelegraph does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information in this article. This article may contain forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties. Cointelegraph will not be liable for any loss or damage arising from your reliance on this information.

Bitcoin's correlation with troubled software stock sector is growingSoftware stocks are thought to be facing an existential threat from the rise of AI, and Bitcoin, noted one analyst, is just open-source software. Feb 4, 2026, 4:26 p.m.

Bitcoin is increasingly behaving like a software stock, with its latest correction unfolding alongside the broader software sell-off.

The relationship between bitcoin and software equities has strengthened notably. On a 30-day rolling basis, bitcoin’s correlation with the iShares Expanded Tech Software ETF, (IGV), stands at a high 0.73, according to ByteTree. The IGV is down around 20% year to date, while bitcoin has fallen 16%.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW

IGV is heavily weighted toward software and services names such as Microsoft (MSFT), Oracle (ORCL), Salesforce (CRM), Intuit (INTU) and Adobe (ADBE).

While the technology sector appears relatively resilient at the headline level — the Nasdaq 100 (QQQ), is only around 4% below its record high — software stocks have absorbed most of the selling pressure, and bitcoin is increasingly trading in line with this weaker pocket of the market rather than the broader index.

As for why software names are getting hammered, the answer is simple: AI. The rapid progress towards fully functioning artificial general intelligence (AGI) is currently being considered an existential issue for software.

“There can be no doubt that bitcoin has been caught up in the technology selloff," said ByteTree. "At its heart, bitcoin is an internet stock. Software stocks have been the most recent casualty, and the price of bitcoin has shown similar performance over the past five years, with high correlation.”

ByteTree also notes that the average technology bear market lasts about 14 months. With this current downturn having started in October, this suggests pressure could persist through much of 2026. However, ByteTree notes that a resilient economic backdrop could provide support for bitcoin.

"Bitcoin is just open-source software," said Van Eck's Matthew Sigel.

Vitalik Buterin is openly challenging long-held assumptions about Ethereum's layer-two ( L2) strategy, arguing that the original vision for L2s no longer fits a network where the base layer itself is scaling rapidly.

Bitcoin Faces Key Weekly Test at $68.4K as ETF Redemptions Hit $2.8B

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Bitcoin (BTC) traded at $75,980 as U.S. desks opened on Feb. 4, 2026, with traders anchoring downside risk to the 200-week EMA near $68,400 after four straight red monthly candles.

Nic Puckrin, CEO of Coin Bureau, framed the immediate trigger as $74,400 (the “April lows” referenced in his X post), then $70,000 as the next shelf “just above” the $69,000 prior ATH, before a deeper capitulation pocket at $55,700 to $58,200 that he tied to the average realized price band plus the 200-week MA.

Where is the Bitcoin Bottom?

Ever since breaking the 50w MA bull trend in November, Bitcoin's momentum has been to the downside.

2 weeks ago, we also broke through the 100w MA.

Last week we broke through the ETF cost basis & the true market mean.

We're currently trading… pic.twitter.com/T2vo4hTedF

— Nic (@nicrypto) February 4, 2026 “Breaking below that means we head to a bear market low target. The area to watch here $55.7k – $58.2k. That’s just between the average realised price of all coins & the 200w MA. That should be the bottom.”

Altcoin Sherpa posted the same macro magnet, calling a tag of the 200-week EMA “around 68k” “logical,” and timestamped the view on Feb. 4, 2026.

BitBull added a cycle template: when BTC loses the 100-week EMA, the price historically retests the 200-week EMA, and he put the retest marker at $68,000 with an “accumulating” framework once it prints.

Every time Bitcoin has lost 100W EMA, it has retested the 200W EMA.

Right now, 200W EMA is at $68,000 and this will most likely be retested.

Once the retest happens, you could start accumulating for the long-term. pic.twitter.com/svAtSx7le2

— BitBull (@AkaBull_) February 4, 2026 ETF flow and positioning data suggest this pullback looks more like de-risking than a full-scale institutional exit. Over the past two weeks, the 11 U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs have seen nearly $2.8 billion in net redemptions ($1.49B last week and $1.32B the week before), even as the group still holds around $100.38 billion in net assets, down from above $125 billion in mid-January.

BTC also briefly dipped to about $74,600, but has largely held the mid-$70Ks, keeping it just above a level many traders watch for forced deleveraging.

The Institutional TakeThe 200-week band functions as a risk committee line because it compresses a four-year regime filter into a single weekly close.

If BTC trades at $75,000 but the market starts pricing a $68.4K tag, desks typically shift from “buy dips” to “sell rips” until the weekly candle either reclaims the 100-week structure or prints a clean test-and-hold at the 200-week zone, which is where systematic vol sellers and long-only allocators usually re-enter with size rather than clip bids in the mid-range.

Fresh rumours around XRP have turned heads on social media after old emails from 2014 resurfaced, triggering claims that powerful figures wanted Ripple and XRP “gone” long before the U.S. regulatory crackdown. The latest debate has prompted a detailed response from XRP-supporting attorney Bill Morgan, who issued a warning  in drawing sweeping conclusions.

What the 2014 Email Actually ShowsAccording to Morgan, the email at the centre of the controversy does suggest that Jeffrey Epstein expressed an interest in harming Ripple and, by extension, XRP and the XRP Ledger in 2014. However, Morgan stressed that the document reflects intent or discussion — not proof of coordinated action.

“The email implicates Epstein in a desire to harm Ripple,” Morgan explained, “but it does not show a sustained or successful campaign carried out over time.”

The Timeline ProblemMorgan highlighted a key issue often missing from online theories: timing. He noted that the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s investigation into Ripple did not begin until between April and June 2018, nearly four years after the email in question.

That period also coincides with former SEC official Bill Hinman’s widely debated speech that signalled Ethereum was not considered a security. Morgan said the gap between 2014 and 2018 is critical and largely unexplained.

Where Gensler Fits — And Where He Doesn’tAdditional emails released publicly show interest from the same circle in Gary Gensler in early May 2018, referencing his political connections and links to what Morgan described as an anti-crypto faction within U.S. Democratic circles.

However, Morgan pushed back against claims that Gensler was involved earlier through MIT. While Gensler joined MIT in 2018, Morgan said there is no evidence tying him to MIT Media Lab activities or its former director Joi Ito during the 2014–2018 period.

The Missing Link“What’s missing,” Morgan said, “is a documented chain of involvement connecting these events over four years.” Aside from Joi Ito’s role at MIT Media Lab, Morgan noted there is no paper trail showing coordination between Epstein, regulators, or exchanges leading up to the SEC case.

Separating Facts From AssumptionsMorgan’s comments come as XRP once again becomes the focus of online narratives during periods of market stress. He said that while historical documents can raise questions, conclusions must be based on verifiable evidence rather than coincidence.

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Solana (SOL) Unstaking Surges 150% — Rising Liquid Supply Opens Price Path to $65?SOL unstaking surged 150% as –449,000 SOL flipped to –1.15 million in two weeks.Exchange buying slowed 26% as net outflows fell from –2.25 million to –1.66 million SOL.Failure to reclaim $98 keeps Solana exposed to $65 breakdown risk.The Solana price remains under heavy pressure in early February, with the token down nearly 30% over the past 30 days and trading inside a weakening descending channel. Price continues to grind toward the lower boundary of this structure as long-term conviction fades.

At the same time, net staking activity has collapsed, exchange buying has slowed, and short-term traders are building positions again. Together, these signals suggest that more SOL is becoming available for potential selling just as technical support weakens.

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Staking Collapse Meets Descending Channel Breakdown RiskSolana’s latest weakness is being reinforced by a sharp drop in staking activity. The Solana staking difference metric tracks the weekly net change in SOL locked in native staking accounts. Positive values show new staking, while negative readings indicate net unstaking.

In late November, long-term conviction was strong. During the week ending November 24, staking accounts recorded net inflows of over 6.34 million SOL, marking a major accumulation phase.

That trend has now fully reversed. By mid-January, weekly staking flows had turned negative. The week ending January 19 showed net unstaking of around –449,819 SOL. By February 2, this had worsened to –1,155,788 SOL, a surge of roughly 150% in unstaking within two weeks.

Staking Collapses: DuneWant more token insights like this? Sign up for Editor Harsh Notariya’s Daily Crypto Newsletter here.

This means a growing amount of SOL is being unlocked from staking and returned to liquid circulation. Once unstaked, these tokens can be moved to exchanges and sold immediately, increasing downside risk.

This collapse is happening as price trades near the lower edge of its descending channel with a 30% breakdown possibility in play.

Bearish SOL Price Structure: TradingViewSponsored

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With SOL hovering near $96, the combination of technical weakness and rising liquid supply creates a dangerous setup. If selling accelerates, the channel support may not hold.

Exchange Buying Slows as Speculators Increase ExposureFalling staking activity is now being reflected in exchange flows. Exchange Net Position Change tracks how much SOL moves onto or off exchanges over a rolling 30-day period. Negative values indicate net outflows and accumulation, while rising readings signal slowing demand.

On February 1, this metric stood near –2.25 million SOL, showing strong buying pressure. By February 3, it had weakened to around –1.66 million SOL. In just two days, exchange outflows dropped by nearly 26%, signaling that accumulation has slowed.

Exchange Outflow Slows Down: GlassnodeSponsored

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This decline in buying is occurring as unstaking accelerates, increasing the amount of SOL available for trading. When supply rises while demand weakens, the price becomes more vulnerable to sharp declines.

At the same time, speculative activity is rising.

HODL Waves data, which separates wallets based on holding time, shows that the one-day to one-week cohort increased its share from 3.51% to 5.06% between February 2 and February 3. This group represents short-term Solana holders who typically enter during volatility and exit quickly.

Speculative Cohort Buys: GlassnodeSimilar behavior appeared in late January. On January 27, this cohort held 5.26% of the supply when SOL traded near $127. By January 30, their share dropped to 4.31% as the price fell to $117, a decline of nearly 8%.

This pattern suggests that speculative money is positioning for short-term bounces rather than long-term holding, increasing the risk that bounces will fade.

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Key Solana Price Levels Still Point to $65 RiskTechnical structure continues to mirror the weakness seen in on-chain data. SOL remains locked inside a descending channel that has guided price lower since November. After losing the critical $98 support zone, the price is now trading near $96, close to the channel’s lower boundary.

If this support fails, the next major downside target lies near $67, based on Fibonacci projections. A deeper move could extend toward $65, aligning with the full measured 30% breakdown of the channel.

On the upside, recovery remains difficult. The first level that Solana must reclaim is $98, followed by stronger resistance near $117, which capped multiple rallies in January. A sustained move above $117 would be required to neutralize the bearish structure.

Solana Price Analysis: TradingViewUntil then, downside risks remain elevated.

With staking collapsing, exchange buying weakening, and speculative positioning rising, more SOL is entering circulation just as technical support weakens. Unless long-term accumulation returns, Solana remains vulnerable to a deeper correction toward $65.

Disclaimer

In line with the Trust Project guidelines, this price analysis article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial or investment advice. BeInCrypto is committed to accurate, unbiased reporting, but market conditions are subject to change without notice. Always conduct your own research and consult with a professional before making any financial decisions. Please note that our Terms and Conditions, Privacy Policy, and Disclaimers have been updated.

Journalist

Posted: February 4, 2026

The market is swinging once again between fear and greed.

Looking at the technical side, the Fear and Greed Index kicked off February deep in the extreme fear zone, a level that historically aligns with capitulation phases, when HODLers start exiting positions to lock in losses.

In such a climate, it’s only natural for investors to be wary of Bitcoin [BTC] Digital Asset Treasuries (DATs). Michael Burry, for instance, has flagged risks of potential bankruptcy for firms holding BTC DATs, such as MSTR.

Source: X

Given the numbers, the cautious outlook seems justified. As AMBCrypto reported, MSTR’s unrealized losses have climbed to around $900 million as Bitcoin dropped below the company’s average cost basis.

Even so, Michael Saylor’s conviction remains rock solid. In a recent interview, he emphasized his commitment to acquiring 5% of BTC supply, framing the current “dip” as a clear opportunity to buy at discounted levels.

Naturally, this divergence has split market sentiment. Sceptics view the current volatility as a sign of fear around Bitcoin DATs, while supporters view Saylor’s 1 million BTC ambition as a strong confidence booster.

The question is: Which way is the hard data tilting?

MSTR’s resilience turns fear into FOMO Michael Burry, the “Big Short” investor known for predicting the 2008 financial crisis, naturally commands attention when he weighs in on BTC. Investors aren’t likely to shrug it off as just another “sell-the-news” event.

Still, analysts aren’t fully convinced. 

MSTR faces no near‑term debt obligations, with maturities scheduled between 2028 and 2030. Its total debt of $8.24 billion is well covered by Bitcoin holdings worth about $53.54 billion, offering a strong 6.5× coverage buffer.

Source: Strategy

Given this, analysts expect MSTR to weather the current FUD much like it did in the previous cycle. At that time, MSTR’s BTC cost was around $30k, yet BTC later dropped to $16k, more than 45% below their cost basis.

Despite the downturn, MSTR held onto its Bitcoin. In fact, this time, the company has even set aside a 2.5-year cash runway to cover interest and dividend payments, giving it added resilience against market volatility.

Against this setup, Saylor’s 1 million ambition doesn’t feel like a stretch. 

With a strong position, no BTC-backed debt, and proven resilience, MSTR backs its view of Bitcoin as a store of value. Hence, its ongoing purchases send a clear greed signal, keeping fear in check and FOMO alive.

Final Thoughts MSTR’s strong balance sheet and BTC holdings provide a 6.5× buffer, allowing it to weather market FUD. Saylor’s 1 million BTC plan and ongoing purchases act as a greed signal, keeping fear in check and FOMO alive for investors.

Ritika Gupta is a Financial Journalist and Geopolitical Analyst at AMBCrypto, specializing in the critical intersection of world politics, economic policy, and the cryptocurrency markets. Her analysis is informed by her distinguished background, which includes professional experience at major news network. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Political Science and Psychology from Gargi College, University of Delhi. This academic training provides her with a sophisticated framework for dissecting complex issues such as international regulations, government fiscal policies, and the geopolitical forces that directly influence asset valuations. At AMBCrypto, Ritika applies this expert lens to synthesize macroeconomic data and political developments, offering readers a deeper context for market movements. She excels at explaining not just what is happening in the market, but why it is happening. Her work is dedicated to providing strategic insights that empower readers to understand the complex relationship between global events and their digital assets.

This support has already triggered massive rallies in the past. During the April to September 2025 cycle, SOL bounced from this same level and surged 166% to $250.

Now, after a sharp 25% drop from $127 to $100, SOL is showing signs of life right where bulls need it most.

If the price holds above $95 on the weekly close, this could be the start of a major recovery rally toward $300 and beyond.

SOL Price Analysis: Channel Breakout Next? SOL is currently rebounding from the lower boundary of a long-term descending channel.

Trader Tardigrade said that this type of rebound often pushes the price toward the upper channel boundary, which sits near $215.

$SOL/weekly#Solana is positioned at the bottom of a wide Descending Channel 👀 pic.twitter.com/YUbZlIZJIl

— Trader Tardigrade (@TATrader_Alan) February 2, 2026

If price repeats the prior cycle, a rally toward $215-$260 over the next few months remains realistic.

A $260 target implies a 150% gain from the $100 base, matching the scale of the last major recovery from this zone.

This could very well be the last dip before SOL rallies to newer highs and beyond toward $500 by the end of the year.

Source: TradingView

However, a weekly close below $95 breaks the structure and delays the bullish path. A retest of lower support zones at $80 is likely.

New SUBBD Presale Lets Users Crypto Using Artificial Intelligence Meme coins stall, attention fades, and liquidity looks for narratives that can scale beyond trading, AI infrastructure now stands tall.

SUBBD ($SUBBD) is attempting to tokenize the creator economy itself, a market already valued near $85 billion and still growing without crypto rails.

Offering an AI-powered content and subscription platform designed for creators who already monetize audiences, SUBBD brings better visibility for creators and incentives for fans.

Meanwhile, holding the token unlocks subscription discounts, premium content access, feature priority, and early product releases.

Already boasting over 2000+ top creators with $250 million+ followers, SUBBD has raised a massive $1.4 million in its ongoing presale.

Early buyers can capture up to 20% in staking rewards as well.

To buy $SUBBD at the presale price, head over to the official SUBBD website and connect a supported wallet (like Best Wallet).

Once done, use a debit/credit card or existing crypto to complete the buy in seconds.

Disclaimer: Coinspeaker is committed to providing unbiased and transparent reporting. This article aims to deliver accurate and timely information but should not be taken as financial or investment advice. Since market conditions can change rapidly, we encourage you to verify information on your own and consult with a professional before making any decisions based on this content.

Solana (SOL) News, Market News

A crypto journalist with over 5 years of experience in the industry, Parth has worked with major media outlets in the crypto and finance world, gathering experience and expertise in the space after surviving bear and bull markets over the years. Parth is also an author of 4 self-published books.

Parth Dubey on LinkedIn

TL;DR

Bitcoin spot ETFs saw about $272 million in net outflows while other ETFs showed selective inflows, indicating defensive institutional behavior. Ethereum and Solana ETF flows show modest but consistent interest, hinting at stability preferences in certain assets. XRP spot ETFs recorded notable net inflows, highlighting differentiated accumulation rather than broad market abandonment. Recent ETF flow data reveals that institutional investors are behaving in a more differentiated way beneath a broadly weak crypto market. While Bitcoin spot ETFs experienced net outflows of roughly $272 million on February 3, other digital assets saw tentative inflows, suggesting capital is being rotated selectively rather than pulled out wholesale. This divergence highlights a nuanced institutional stance, with funds moving toward assets perceived as having clearer regulatory or yield advantages even as overall market sentiment remains cautious.

Interpreting Institutional ETF Flows Amid Market Fragility Bitcoin’s outflows reflect continued defensive positioning by institutions. Data shows that after a brief positive session on February 2, Bitcoin ETFs on the third of the month were in negative territory, extending January’s predominance of redemptions. Heavy withdrawals led by major Bitcoin products indicate that many institutional holders remain cautious, possibly due to weak momentum and macro uncertainty, leaving BTC lower on the priority list for fresh capital deployment.

Ethereum ETFs displayed marginal net inflows, indicating tentative stabilization. Products such as BlackRock’s ETHA and Grayscale’s ETHE recorded small positive flows, pointing to modest confidence in Ether relative to Bitcoin. Although these inflows are far below the peaks seen earlier in January, their presence suggests institutions are slightly more comfortable allocating capital to assets tied closely to decentralized finance and staking opportunities.

Solana ETFs continued to attract consistent, though modest, inflows. Solana products maintained positive flows on February 3, extending a pattern of small but steady institutional interest dating back into late January. While total volumes remain modest compared with Bitcoin and Ethereum, the consistency of Solana inflows could indicate growing comfort with exposure to high throughput, staking‑oriented ecosystems.

XRP stood out with notable net inflows amid sector caution. Spot XRP ETFs recorded a clear positive flow of about $19.46 million, led by several ETF products focused on the token. This marked one of the most prominent signs of institutional accumulation across digital asset ETFs, contrasting strongly with Bitcoin’s outflow bias and suggesting that some investors see value or regulatory clarity in alternative tokens.

Despite these differentiated flows, broader crypto conditions remain fragile. Indicators such as sentiment indexes point toward extreme fear, and technical momentum across major assets remains weak. Overall, ETF data suggests caution rather than panic, with institutional capital becoming more selective in its allocations rather than exiting the crypto market altogether.

Wed, 4/02/2026 - 15:12

A 277,731,894 DOGE transfer worth $29.4 million from an unidentified wallet to Robinhood reignited debate; is this exit liquidity before a dump or the trigger for Dogecoin's next breakout?

Cover image via intel.arkm.com No more than 15 hours ago, 277,731,894 Dogecoin (DOGE) worth over $29.48 million were transferred to one of the biggest U.S. brokerage platforms, Robinhood, as DOGE battles to stay above its multiweek support level of $0.106.

At first, the transfer appeared to originate from an unidentified "whale" wallet with no recent transaction history. Of course, the transaction was immediately flagged by Whale Alert due to its scale and destination — Robinhood, one of the largest DOGE custodians globally.

Source: ArkhamHowever, deeper blockchain analysis, through Arkham, revealed a more complex situation. Not only did the sender address (DGTDR) hold over 865 million DOGE prior to the transaction, but it also engaged in a series of mirrored transfers, including a 90.5 million DOGE move and multiple round trip transactions between itself and the wallet that received the $29 million. 

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This behavioral pattern, along with transaction cluster data, strongly suggests that both wallets are part of Robinhood’s internal infrastructure.

What's brewing for Dogecoin on Robinhood?Further supporting evidence includes a separate transaction logged 13 hours earlier showing 36.8 million DOGE valued at $38.95 million moving from the same source into Robinhood’s labeled cold wallet, all under the same cluster.

While these movements now appear to be internal, they still have real market impact. Large transfers between custodial wallets often precede system-wide rebalancing or front-running expected user flows, both of which can trigger turbulence on the Dogecoin price chart.

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With Elon Musk reentering the DOGE narrative and speculation heating up, observers are treating every major on-chain movement as a signal. Shifting 277 million DOGE to a high-velocity trading venue like Robinhood sends a message: someone’s preparing for action.

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Cover image via U.Today Disclaimer: The opinions expressed by our writers are their own and do not represent the views of U.Today. The financial and market information provided on U.Today is intended for informational purposes only. U.Today is not liable for any financial losses incurred while trading cryptocurrencies. Conduct your own research by contacting financial experts before making any investment decisions. We believe that all content is accurate as of the date of publication, but certain offers mentioned may no longer be available.

The earlier Cardano sell-off is not forever, as the current rebound has helped it recover in the market rankings. Data from CoinMarketCap shows that Cardano is now worth $10.6 billion, slightly edging out Bitcoin Cash, with a market valuation of $10.5 billion.

Cardano and market ranking riskAs reported earlier by U.Today, Cardano was dethroned by Hyperliquid (HYPE) from the 10th spot earlier this week as the broader crypto market faced an intense sell-off.

With altcoin volatility unpredictable, Hyperliquid has reverted all of its gains, and as a result, it gave up its spot in the ranking. Bitcoin Cash stepped up in a shocking move and now occupies 11th place among the biggest coins on the market.

Cardano has been on the radar in recent times, with Founder Charles Hoskinson focusing on innovation rather than price setup. In earlier updates, Hoskinson revealed plans for the Logan AI Agent update, a plan that might require input from market participants.

At the time of writing, the price of Cardano was changing hands for $0.2937, down by 1.67% in the past 24 hours. The top altcoin is one of the biggest losers thus far this year, with a year-to-date (YTD) loss of 17%.

The threat to Cardano of leaving the top 10 crypto permanently remains a major one on the market. Like other altcoins, including Toncoin and Shiba Inu, which have left the top 20 ranks, permanent placement is dependent on sustained innovation and broad adoption.

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Is Cardano price undervalued?Cardano is often pitched alongside XRP and Ethereum in terms of its technological capabilities. It is regarded as one of the most decentralized protocols following the Chang hardfork implementation over a year ago.

Despite its current positive boost, Cardano is significantly lower in price and market capitalization compared to ETH, XRP and SOL. However, proponents believe ADA has very positive long-term prospects, a push recognized by its community.

With limited whale interest in recent times, proponents are watching out for crucial network metrics like volume, open interest and ETF expectations. Cardano ETF products in particular may help usher in institutional investors, which may in turn help fuel future price growth.

This integration allows cross-margining of decentralized finance derivatives alongside traditional assets, enhancing centralized risk management. Feb 4, 2026, 3:27 p.m.

Ripple has announced that its institutional prime brokerage platform, Ripple Prime, now supports the decentralized derivatives trading protocol Hyperliquid.

The integration gives Ripple Prime clients access to Hyperliquid’s onchain perpetuals liquidity while keeping margin and risk managed inside Ripple Prime. The company said clients will be able to cross-margin decentralized finance derivatives exposures, alongside positions in other markets the platform supports.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW

Ripple Prime currently supports traditional assets that include FX, fixed income, over-the-counter swaps, and more. The platform acts as a single point of access for institutions managing multi-asset portfolios, offering centralized risk management and capital efficiency, Ripple said.

The integration builds on growing interoperability in the space. Earlier this year Flare, a blockchain focused on interoperability, launched the first XRP spot market on Hyperliquid with the listing of FXRP. Ripple’s announcement focuses on derivatives access through Ripple Prime rather than retail spot trading.

Hyperliquid has drawn attention over its rapid growth to become the largest perpetual contracts decentralized exchange. As of mid-January, it had surpassed $5 billion in open interest and $200 billion in monthly trading volume, outpacing several rival exchanges.

Its recent surge in tokenized commodity trades, including silver futures, has attracted interest in the space and helped its HYPE token outperform during the ongoing selloff. The platform is also eyeing prediction markets.

Ripple launched its Prime platform in late 2025 following its $1.25 billion acquisition of prime brokerage firm Hidden Road.

AI Disclaimer: Parts of this article were generated with the assistance from AI tools and reviewed by our editorial team to ensure accuracy and adherence to our standards. For more information, see CoinDesk's full AI Policy.

Bitcoin has long served a simple purpose: storing and transferring value. The blockchain’s inherent limitations in scalability and programmability prevented use cases like high-frequency payments and smart contracts.

Launched in 2018, the layer-2 solution Lightning Network introduced noticeable improvements in scalability. It takes some of the burden offchain by creating side channels between the sender and receiver.

The model settles transactions faster, with lower fees. Rendering Bitcoin feasible for daily use, the solution spurred the development of many payment apps on the blockchain.

Programmability also arrived in Bitcoin through secondary protocols, such as RGB, an open-source solution designed to expand Bitcoin’s capabilities. The protocol enables the creation of smart contracts and other digital assets on Bitcoin through private, offchain transactions.

RGB powers decentralized applications (DApps) and tokenization, and allows digital assets other than Bitcoin (BTC) to exist on top of the original blockchain.

Bitcoin-native USDT transactionsCTDG Dev Hub, a collaborative platform for blockchain developers working on protocol ideas, has added Utexo as a new participant. The project examines how stablecoin transfers could be represented natively on Bitcoin by combining the Lightning Network’s payment channels with RGB’s client-side asset model. By focusing on interoperability between Bitcoin’s scaling and asset layers, Utexo aligns with DevHub’s goal of supporting experimental infrastructure research and practical developer-driven use cases.

Before the introduction of native solutions, the prevailing practice for using USDT on Bitcoin was utilizing methods like wrapping and bridging, which add intermediaries to the process and increase security risks.

Utexo moves USDT on Bitcoin-native rails instead by combining Lightning’s payment flow with RGB’s asset transfer model. Through RGB, USDT is issued and transferred under a client-side validation model, which keeps most of the transaction details off Bitcoin’s base layer.

Meanwhile, the Lightning Network enables fast and low-cost execution. Bitcoin’s layer-1 only serves as the security anchor that ultimately settles transactions and prevents double-spending.

That combination is meant to avoid the extra trust assumptions that come with wrapping and bridging while still keeping the experience fast. In other words, speed comes from Lightning, asset logic comes from RGB and the security stays tied to Bitcoin.

In Utexo’s design, separating execution from base-layer congestion can make cost behavior less sensitive to Bitcoin’s mempool conditions, since most activity occurs off-chain and Bitcoin is used only for final settlement. This structural decoupling is one reason some implementations aim for more stable cost behavior as throughput grows.

Utilizing the Lightning Network or RGB normally requires a good amount of manual labor. Users have to set up and run a Lightning node, open and manage channels, ensure liquidity, handle routing failures and monitor payment status.

On the RGB side, they also need to manage issuance and transfers, exchange the data needed for client-side validation and keep track of state so balances remain accurate.

The project brings these steps into a single integration flow available via an SDK and REST API. It exposes programmatic access to Lightning execution, routing and failure handling, as well as RGB asset issuance, transfers and state transitions, enabling interaction with both layers through one interface.

Bitcoin developers gain a hubCointelegraph has been taking an active role in blockchain governance and development through its initiative, Cointelegraph Decentralization Guardians.

As part of the CTDG ecosystem, CTDG Dev Hub serves as a developer-focused hub alongside CTDG’s validator operations and educational initiatives. The hub offers an open, global public space for developers and other members of the blockchain community to exchange ideas, develop solutions, and submit proposals.

Through its participation in CTDG Dev Hub, Utexo becomes part of a shared development environment where its approach can be reviewed and discussed by other contributors. The Dev Hub serves as a coordination point for developers and community members exploring infrastructure and tooling for Bitcoin-based applications.

Cointelegraph is committed to independent, transparent journalism. This news article is produced in accordance with Cointelegraph’s Editorial Policy and aims to provide accurate and timely information. Readers are encouraged to verify information independently. Read our Editorial Policy https://cointelegraph.com/editorial-policy

BTC’s pullback to $73K has one veteran analyst focused on a warning sign rather than the price: a bold remark from Saylor.

Market Sentiment:

Bullish Bearish Neutral

Published: February 4, 2026 │ 3:24 PM GMT

Created by Kornelija Poderskytė from DailyCoin

The host of a long-running crypto market channel says something “we should all be a little bit afraid of” just hit the market – and it’s not Bitcoin’s slide back below $73,000. In a new video, the analyst focuses instead on a high‑profile comment from the largest known Bitcoin whale, while doubling down on his own strategy of aggressively buying into the current draw-down.

The analyst zeroes in on a fresh remark from MicroStrategy’s Michael Saylor, who he calls “the biggest bitcoin whale in existence.” Saylor’s line – “volatility is Satoshi’s gift to the faithful” – might sound bullish, but the host argues it has become an accidental warning signal.

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“Every single time thus far that he said it, the market moved down pretty quickly afterward” the analyst says, describing Saylor as “a pretty big top indicator,” with only one recent exception.

Dusty floats a theory circulating in crypto circles: that Saylor may currently be close to, or briefly under, his average cost basis and could be timing smaller buys while waiting for what he sees as a clearer bottom before announcing larger purchases.

Despite the concern, the analyst agrees with Saylor’s core message on volatility – especially for those running automated strategies. He cites his own use of exchange-based algorithmic trading bots that tend to profit more as price swings widen.

Bitcoin’s Deep Inside The $71K Pocket as Gold Rips & Stocks SlideOn price action, Dusty BC reiterates a long-stated “buy zone” for Bitcoin, describing anything near $72,000 as “cheap, cheap, cheap territory” and calling the recent dip into the low $70,000s “basically as far as I think it’s going to go.”

At around $71,000, he says he is already “deep” in positions and prepared to “start praying” if the market pushes significantly lower.

He contrasts Bitcoin’s muted response with a sudden surge in gold, which he says is “up above $5,000 again, up 20% in 48 hours,” while major equity indices like the Nasdaq 100 are dropping as AI stocks sell off.

In Dusty’s view, crypto is suffering from a frustrating pattern: tracking stocks on down days and behaving inversely to both equities and gold when they rise. “Every single day our coins just keep going down,” Dusty notes.

Macro tensions and a recent partial U.S. government shutdown briefly enter the picture as well, though the analyst stresses he prefers not to dwell on geopolitics. In Dusty’s opinion, these risks only reinforce the original case for Bitcoin as a government‑resistant asset, a modern alternative to gold and silver.

Dusty highlights recent clips of Donald Trump describing himself as “a big crypto person” and arguing that if the U.S. doesn’t embrace crypto, “then China’s going to do it.”

The analyst interprets Washington’s growing engagement with digital assets as a “golden sticker” that, in his opinion, reduces the probability of crypto going to zero and will eventually force rival nations to “play catch up.”

For crypto investors, the message is blunt: short‑term price action looks weak, correlations are messy, and a key whale’s comments make traders uneasy.

But for those who agree with the analyst’s long view – that Bitcoin is still on a path to “hundreds of thousands and millions” per coin – current levels are seen as a rare discount, with strategy and risk tolerance more important than ever.

Discover DailyCoin’s popular crypto news today:
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People Also Ask:Does the analyst think this is the final bottom?

No. He calls $72,000 his expected “lowest” zone but admits Bitcoin could break lower and says his view is not financial advice.

Why is Michael Saylor’s comment seen as worrying?

The analyst notes that past instances of Saylor praising volatility were often followed by price drops, leading traders to treat it as a potential top signal.

How does gold’s move factor into his thesis?

He sees gold’s sharp rally alongside equity weakness as evidence of rising global uncertainty, which in theory should also strengthen Bitcoin’s long‑term use case.

What role does Trump’s stance on crypto play here?

The analyst views Trump’s pro‑crypto comments and broader U.S. engagement as a sign that major powers won’t let the sector vanish, increasing pressure on other countries to eventually join in.

DailyCoin's Vibe Check: Which way are you leaning towards after reading this article?

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This article is for information purposes only and should not be considered trading or investment advice. Nothing herein shall be construed as financial, legal, or tax advice. Trading forex, cryptocurrencies, and CFDs pose a considerable risk of loss.

Hyperliquid has broken ranks with the broader digital asset market, posting a massive double-digit rally while Bitcoin and other major altcoins like XRP suffer from the bear market.

According to CryptoSlate's data, Hyperliquid's HYPE is one of the crypto market's top performers over the past two weeks, jumping roughly 71% to a high of $35, its highest price since last December.

This price performance reflects crypto traders’ positive sentiment about the protocol's potential to expand product offerings.

Notably, the price action stands in sharp contrast to the ugly tape elsewhere. Over the past weeks, a sharp risk-off wave has hit corners of the market, and the damage hasn’t been isolated to digital assets.

The same macro tremors that knocked crypto lower also jolted precious metals and other risk trades, wiping around $6 trillion over the first few weeks of 2026.

And yet in the middle of that giant market-wide red screen, HYPE is acting like a different animal, with US investors driving its uptrend.

HYPE Cumulative Returns by Sessions (Source: Velo)The simplest explanation that capital is just rotating into a strong chart misses what makes this move structurally interesting.

Essentially, HYPE is increasingly trading less like a generic altcoin and more like an exchange-linked asset whose demand can rise because markets get messy. In a risk-off regime, most tokens are punished for being “risk.”

However, venues that monetize volatility can see fundamentals improve when everyone else’s fundamentals degrade.

Hyperliquid's volatility revenueHyperliquid’s core product is perpetual futures. When volatility spikes, perpetual volume typically rises as traders hedge, speculate, rotate across assets, and are liquidated more frequently.

That activity throws off fees, and Hyperliquid’s design links those fees back to token demand in a direct, mechanical loop.

On DefiLlama, Hyperliquid Perps shows a 30-day perp volume of $216.286 billion and a 24-hour perp volume of $11.778 billion.

Chart Showing Hyperliquid Perps DEX Volume (Source: DeFiLlama)This activity is accompanied by 30-day revenue of $68.42 million and annualized revenue of $834.7 million. At the same time, open interest on the platform currently exceeds $6 billion.

These numbers matter because of the “what happens next” step. DefiLlama’s methodology notes that 99% of fees go to an Assistance Fund for buying HYPE tokens, excluding builder fees.

In other words, more trading activity can translate into more buy pressure for the token, which is built into the plumbing rather than dependent on sentiment.

That is the core reason HYPE can appear to be the “sole winner” during broad drawdowns. If fear increases turnover, the protocol’s cashflow loop can strengthen even while the rest of the market deleverages.

For context, data from ASXN show that the daily HYPE buyback rate climbed to nearly $4 million earlier this month, the highest level since last November. When expanded to the past month, the rate exceeded $55 million.

Chart Showing Hyperliquid HYPE Buybacks (Source: ASXN)Two takeaways fall out of that set of numbers.

First, buyback intensity has accelerated recently. The 30-day figure implies an average of approximately $1.86 million per day, whereas the 7-day figure implies $2.85 million per day, consistent with a market that has become more active and more volatile.

Second, the buybacks have been executed at progressively higher average prices over shorter windows ($25.81 over 30 days versus $31.36 over the past 24 hours), which fits the broader point that HYPE demand is tightening as activity rises.

Hyperliquid is widening the volatility surface areaHyperliquid’s significant price gains also have strong product catalysts that are easy to overlook if you only track price.

The protocol is effectively widening the “volatility surface area” it can capture by moving beyond standard crypto assets into Real World Assets (RWAs) and permissionless markets, a strategy unlocked by its recent HIP-3 upgrade.

HIP-3 made Hyperliquid more permissionless on listings, allowing the protocol to support builder-deployed perpetual markets. These deployers must maintain 500,000 staked HYPE and are subject to slashing via a validator vote in the event of malicious operation.

That stake requirement serves as a direct token sink and imposes a “cost of entry” for builders seeking to rapidly list markets.

This infrastructure enabled the platform's rapid expansion into commodities. Milk Road, a crypto commentary platform, noted that this trend deserves way more attention than it is getting.

The firm attributed HYPE's rally to this integration of RWAs, noting that Hyperliquid has captured 2% of the world's primary silver market despite listing the metal roughly 30 days ago.

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Milk Road described this volume as “INSANE,” emphasizing that silver trading volume indicates that the HYPE token can thrive rather than merely survive the market downturn.

Data from Flowscan show that cumulative open interest across HIP-3 DEXs has exceeded $28 billion.

Hyperliquid's HIP-3 DEXs Open Interest (Source: Flowscan)New competitor against Polymarket?Meanwhile, the newest narrative tailwind is HIP-4, which introduces outcome-style, event-based markets.

Hyperliquid stated that HIP-4 will introduce fully collateralized contracts that settle within fixed ranges. These are positioned as prediction-market-like instruments and limited-risk, options-style structures designed to avoid margin calls and liquidation cascades.

According to the firm:

“Outcomes bring non-linearity, dated contracts, and an alternative form of derivative trading that does not involve leverage or liquidations. The outcome primitive expands the expressivity of HyperCore, while composing with other primitives such as portfolio margin and the HyperEVM.”

Data from Santiment indicates that the crowd appears to be hyped about Hyperliquid rolling out HIP-4. The firm noted that recent price action suggests that community expectations regarding new derivatives and prediction markets could attract additional volume.

Chart Showing Hyperliquid's Social Sentiment (Source: Santiment)Notably, discussions of HIP-4 have also included comparisons with existing prediction platforms.

DeFi analyst Ignas said Hyperliquid's HIP-4 is notable because if outcomes compose with perps, a trader can long ETH and buy an ‘ETH below $2,000' outcome as a hedge, causing their margin to drop because the positions offset each other.

According to him, competitors such as Polymarket and Kalshi cannot do this.

Additionally, he noted that Hyperliquid's permissionless deployment could confer advantages, as the platform allows anyone to create markets, whereas upcoming rivals such as Polymarket do not support this feature.

HYPE faces an impending headwindDespite the bullish structural arguments, HYPE faces a significant test this week.

Data from Tokenomist indicates that the next Hyperliquid unlock is scheduled for Feb. 6 and will release 9.92 million HYPE to core contributors, which is approximately $335 million at recent prices.

Hyperliquid's HYPE Recent Token Unlocks (Source: Tokenomist)This is where the “mechanical bid” narrative meets real market structure. If Hyperliquid Perps generates roughly $68.42 million in 30-day revenue, the unlock’s notional value is approximately 4.9 times the monthly run rate.

That doesn’t mean the buyback loop cannot handle it. It means the path matters. If unlocked holders sell aggressively and quickly, the market can gap down even with steady buybacks, especially if broader risk appetite remains weak.

However, if selling is staggered or volatility keeps volumes elevated, buybacks can act as a stabilizer, turning “unlock fear” into a buy-the-dip setup for traders.

But if the broader market volatility collapses as the macroeconomic backdrop calms and traders step away, the buyback yield declines, and HYPE starts trading more like a standard risk asset again.

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